Caladium plant named ‘Celebration’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Celebration’, characterized by its upright plant habit; intermediate to tall plant size; uniform plant habit; vigorous and dense growth habit; fancy-type leaves with dark red-colored venation, white-colored interveinal areas surrounded by dark green-colored borders; and good landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CELEBRATION’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Celebration’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive foliage coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Apr. 15, 2007, in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘John Peed’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Christmas’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. on Sep. 15, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. since Apr. 15, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Celebration’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Celebration’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; intermediate to tall plant size.     -   2. Uniform plant habit.     -   3. Vigorous and dense growth habit.     -   4. Fancy-type leaves with dark red-colored venation,         white-colored interveinal areas surrounded by dark green-colored         borders.     -   5. Good landscape performance and tolerant to full sun         conditions.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘John Peed’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of ‘John         Peed’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘John Peed’ differ in leaf         coloration as leaves of plants of ‘John Peed’ have red-colored         venation and interveinal areas surrounded by dark green-colored         margins.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘John Peed’ differ in leaf         petiole coloration as plants of ‘John Peed’ have dark         red-colored leaf petioles.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘White Christmas’, in leaf coloration as leaves of plants of ‘White Christmas’ have dark green-colored venation, white-colored interveinal areas and dark green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium ‘Candidum’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Avon Park, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Candidum’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium were more undulate than         leaves of plants of ‘Candidum’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Candidum’ differed in leaf         coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Candidum’ had green-colored         venation, variably white-colored interveinal areas and         green-colored margins.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of ‘Tapestry’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Tapestry’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium grew faster than plants of         ‘Tapestry’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Tapestry’ differed in leaf         coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Tapestry’ had rose         pink-colored venation, white and pink-colored interveinal areas         surrounded by olive green-colored borders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Celebration’ grown in a 15-cm container in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Celebration’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers and roots of ‘Celebration’.

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘Celebration’ grown in 15-cm containers, the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom left of the third sheet is a close-up view of the rear surface of typical inflorescences of ‘Celebration’.

The photograph at the bottom right of the third sheet is a close-up view of the front surface of a typical inflorescence of ‘Celebration’.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of the female parent, ‘John Peed’ (left), ‘Celebration’ (center) and the male parent, ‘White Christmas’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘Candidum’ (left), ‘Celebration’ (center) and ‘Tapestry’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containers in Avon Park, Fla. in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% shade) and plants grown in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Zolfo Springs, Fla. during the autumn. All plants were grown under environmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery Caladium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 33° C. (shadehouse) or 29° C. to 35° C. (outdoor nursery), night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. (shadehouse) or 23° C. to 26° C. (outdoor nursery) and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles (shadehouse) or 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles (outdoor nursery). Plants grown in the shadehouse were seven weeks old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. Plants grown in the outdoor nursery were seven months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Celebration’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘John Peed’,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘White             Christmas’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             ovate to elliptic in shape. Height: About 2.7 cm. Diameter:             About 3.7 cm. Texture: Thick and starchy; somewhat brittle.             Color: Epidermis, freshly harvested, close to 199A, 199C to             199D; epidermis, dried tuber, close to 200A; interior, close             to 11D; axillary buds, close to 37D and 170D. Root             description: Thick, fleshy contractile roots; color, close             to 155C. Rooting habit: Few lateral branches; moderately             dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded and full sunlight areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; intermediate to             tall plant size; inverted triangle; vigorous and dense             growth habit; rapid growth rate; petioles and leaves arise             from one or more growing points on tubers; petioles mostly             upright and arching outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 35 cm to 41.5 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 36 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About 42 cm to 50 cm.         -   Number of clumps per plant, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About two to three from de-eyed tubers.         -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About 6             cm to 11.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Deltoid.             Apex: Obtuse to emarginate, or acute. Base: Sheathing the             stem. Color, outer surface: Close to N170D streaked and             tessellated with close to 200A to 200B and 147A; with             development, color becoming closer to 200A stained with             close to 187A. Color, inner surface: Close to 155C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 23 cm to 30             cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 14 cm to 19.5             cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Sagittate, peltate.         -   Margin.—Entire; mostly flat with some broad undulations.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing leaves,             upper surface: Basal notch: Close to 187B. Area between             basal notch and petiole attachment: Close to 187C. Midrib:             Close to 59B. Primary venation: Close to 59B to 59C. Areas             surrounding the primary venation: Darker green than 147A.             Interveinal areas: Random sectors and spots, close to 146B,             147D and 155C. Borders: Darker green than 147A. Margins:             Close to 187B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Basal             notch: Close to 187B. Area between basal notch and petiole             attachment: Close to 185C to 185D. Midrib: Close to 181B.             Primary venation: Close to 148C tinged with close to 181D.             Areas surrounding the primary venation: Close to 185C to             185D and/or 191A and 189A. Interveinal areas: Random sectors             and spots, close to 147B, 147C, 191A, 194A to 194B and close             to 155C. Borders: Close to 191A and 189A. Margins: Close to             187B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Basal notch:             Close to 187C to 187D. Area between basal notch and petiole             attachment: Close to 187C to 187D. Midrib and primary             venation: Close to 59A to 59B. Areas surrounding the primary             venation: Darker green than 147A. Interveinal areas: Random             sectors and spots, close to 146A to 146B, 155C and 63D.             Borders: Darker green than 147A. Margins: Close to 187B.             Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Basal notch: Close to             187B. Area between basal notch and petiole attachment: Close             to 187B. Petiole attachment: Close to 185D. Midrib: Close to             181D. Primary venation: Close to 148D tinged with close to             181D. Areas surrounding the primary venation: Close to 185D             and/or 191A. Interveinal areas: Random sectors and spots,             close to 147C, 191A, 191B, 155C and close to 65D. Borders:             Close to 191A. Margins: Close to 187B.         -   Petiole.—Aspect: Mostly erect, slightly outwardly leaning             with development; flexible. Length, shadehouse-grown potted             plants: About 25 cm to 36 cm. Diameter, distal,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 4 mm to 6 mm.             Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 8             mm to 11 mm. Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants: Close to             200A variably striped, streaked and tessellated with close             to N170D tinged with close to 147A; below the leaf/petiole             junction, close to N170D tinged with close to 147C. Wing             length, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 5 cm to             6.5 cm. Wing diameter, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About             8 mm to 10 mm. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             outer surface: Close to N170D, streaked and tessellated with             close to 147A and 200A. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted             plants, inner surface: Close to N155C, outer surface colors             and patterns visible. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on eleven-week     old shadehouse-grown potted plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers arranged on the             lower one-third of the spadix; male flowers arranged on the             upper two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop at             junction of female and male flower zones; near this             junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses             the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male             flowers.         -   Fragrance.—Night fragrant; moderate jasmine-like fragrance             with camphor-like note.         -   Natural flowering season/longevity: Plants of the new             Caladium typically flower during the spring or early summer             in central Florida; flowers develop about eleven weeks after             growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length: About 10 cm; open length, about 6.5 cm and             closed length, about 3.5 cm. Width, distal: About 2.5 cm.             Width, proximal: About 2.2 cm. Width, at constriction: About             1.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Tapering to the             peduncle. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, front surface: Upper two-thirds:             Close to 155C faintly marbled with close to 145C to 145D;             with development, color becoming closer to 199B. Lower             one-third: Close to 148C; color does not change with             development. Color, rear surface: Upper two-thirds: Close to             155C marbled with close to 145B to 145C. Lower one-third:             Close to 147B and 146B.         -   Spadix.—Length: About 8.7 cm. Length, male flower zone:             About 5 cm. Length, sterile flower zone: About 1.5 cm.             Length, female flower zone: About 2.2 cm. Diameter, male             flower zone: About 1.1 cm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:             About 6 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 9 mm. Shape:             Columnar. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Aspect: Upright. Color,             mature, male zone: Close to 158D. Color, mature, sterile             zone: Close to 158D. Color, mature, female zone: Close to             10C to 10D. Male flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 202.             Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Pollen amount: None observed. Female flowers: Quantity per             spadix: About 167. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color: Close to 10C to 10D.             Ovary color: Close to 155D.         -   Scape.—Length: About 26 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength:             Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous;             glaucous. Color: Close to N170D tinged with close to 147C             and variably streaked, stippled or striped with close to             147B tinged with close to 200B; just below spathe, close to             147C faintly streaked with close to N170D and 147B tinged             with close to 200A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease & pest tolerance/resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have     been observed to have above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf     Spot and have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot. Plants of the     new Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     40° C. and suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Celebration’ as illustrated and described. 